Stereotype-block.



J. McNAUGHTON.

STEREOTYPE BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5. 1915.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

WWKQKWWN 1 flg a Inventor,

Witnesses 0 Attorneys,

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JOHN MoNAUG-HTON, OF LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

STEREOTYPE-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 28, 1916.

Application filed May 5, 1915. Serial No. 26,017.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MoNAUeHToN, a subject of the King of England,residing at London, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada,have invented a new and useful Stereotype-Block, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to stereotype blocks, one of its objects being toprovide a block which can be kept on hand by a printer and to which hecan readily attach stereotype plates whenever it is desired to use them,whereby it becomesunnecessary to provide a block for each stereotypeplate. The gen eral practice heretofore followed has been to mountstereotypes upon woodenblocks' which are cast aside when the stereotypeplates are of no further use, or else ithas been the practice to formthe stereotype plates upon or secure them to metal blocks which havelikewisev been discarded with the plates. I am also aware of the factthat it is old to provide means for attaching plates to blocks, whichblocks can be subsequently used in connection with other plates. Thesemeans, however, have all been found objectionable for the reason thatconsiderable mechanismhas been required in the construction andoperation of the blocks, necessary to provide or else it has beengrooves in the backs of the stereotype plates,

this adding materially to the cost of producing the plates.

' One of the objects tion is to provide a block to which a stereotypeplate can be attached readily, the block being formed in a single pieceand the fastening means being of a form which can be readily procured atall times and used without requiring any special skill.

It is thought that the advantages in providing a block which can be usedin con. nection with difierent, stereotypes, successively, will beapparent to all skilled in the art to which the present inventionrelates. By utilizing blocks of this type, it is possi ble to ship theplates without being mounted, thus effecting a considerable saving inthe cost of transportation over those stereotypes which are fixedlymounted on the blocks. While this has been possible with someforms ofdevices heretofore patented, it has been necessary either to use specialforms of fastening devices, special tools for assembling the parts, orblocks which, by

reason of their intricate construction, have a of the present inven beenundesirable both because of their cost and their inefficiency. Thus theyhave not come into general use.

One object of the provide a block which is simple in constructype platecan be secured without mutilating the block and from which the plate canbe readily removed whenever desired and another substituted therefor,the attaching and removing of the plate not requiring the use of anyexpensive fastening means or of any special tools. y

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what In tie accompanylng drawings the preferre form of theinvention has been shown In said drawings: Figure 1 is a tive view of ablock embodying the present improvements. Fig. 2 is a section on lineig. 1, and showing a stereotype plate secured in position. Fig. 3 is asection on line O-D Fig. 1, and showing a stereotype plate in position.a

n forming a block such as constitutes the present inventlon, a lightmetal, such as V with flared upper portions 4. The slots can be extendeddiagonally within the face portion of the block as shown or ifpreferred, can be arranged in any other manner desired. For example theslots can be extended straight across from one side to the other or canbe disposed in herring-bone formation. These modifications are soobvious that it is not deemed necessary to illustrate them in detai Themeans employed for attaching the perspecstereotype plate 5 to the blockconsists of ordinary wire nails of a diameter equal to the width of thenarrowest portion of each slot 3. After the stereotype plate 5 has beenproperly placed on the blocks, the nails, which have been indicated at6, are driven through the plates at-points where they will enter certainof the slots 3. hen the heads of the nails have been brought intoengagement with the plate 5, those portions of the nails projectingbelow the slots are bent back toward the face portion of the blockasshown particularly in Fig. 3, thus constituting efficient means fortying the plate to the block.

In order to provide means whereby the nails can be readily bent, ribs 7are prefer ably formed along the bottom of the face portion 1 of theblock and at the sides of the slots, as shown in Fig. 3, the nails beingbent against these ribs as shown. By flaring the upper ends of theslots, the nails are properly guided into the slots during the drivingoperation. By utilizing diagonally disposed slots, it is always possibleto find a number of blank spaces on the stereotype plate locateddirectly above certain of the slots so that there is never anyditliculty in Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,by addressing the placing the nails so as to properly secure the plateto the block without mutilating the printing face. When the stereotypeplate is to be discarded, it is merely necessary to bend thenails sothat they can be withdrawn from the block, whereupon the plate can beremoved and another plate substituted in the manner hereinafter pointedout.

What is claimed is l 1. A stereotype block including a face portionhaving slots therein, the upper portions of the slots being flared, andribs extending along the sides of each slot, said ribs being arrangedupon the bottom of the face portion of the block.

52. The combination with a block having slots in the face portionthereof and ribs along the sides of each slot and projecting downwardlyfrom the face portion of the block, of a stereotype plate resting on theblock, and bendrble means extending downwardly through the plate andcertain of the slots and laterally into engagement with certain of theribs g In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoafiixed my signature. V

r JOHN McNAUGI-ITON.

Commissioner of .Eatents,

Washington, D. C.

